Cyril

Meaning of Cyril

Derived from the Classical Greek Kyrillos, itself formed from kyrios (“lord, master”), the masculine name Cyril has been transmitted through a lineage of eminent ecclesiastical figures—most prominently Cyril of Jerusalem in the fourth century and Cyril of Alexandria in the fifth—before lending its designation to the Cyrillic script devised by Byzantine missionaries in the ninth century; in modern usage it appears in English as /ˈsɪrəl/, in French as /siʁil/ and in Russian as /ˈsirʲɪl/. Its semantic core conveys authority and stewardship, attributes reinforced by its historical bearers’ roles in doctrinal formulation and liturgical scholarship. Within the Anglo-American context, Cyril has never reached the apex of popular nomenclature yet has maintained a steady presence: as of 2024, forty-one American newborns received the name, placing it at rank 883, a position indicative of modest but enduring appeal rather than transient vogue.